This wasn’t my usual sort of book at all so I really didn’t expect to like it much. But it was gorgeous. Very long and detailed so probably not for you if you don’t like that sort of book, but I enjoyed immersing myself into this world.

This book is incredible. It is utterly absorbing and completely enchanting. I couldn't put it down, if you only read one book this year make it this one.

Honestly I was so worried I wouldn't like this as much as I do. With all the comparisons to pachinko (which I never really connected too) I was worried the characters wouldn't be developed enough but I was totally wrong! The journey these characters went on was heart-wrenching and it was all I could think about every time I had to stop reading to go to work! I cant wait to read more from this author!!

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Peach Blossom Spring
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Melissa Fu
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fiction
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 15th March 2022
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬:
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5

”Within every misfortune there is a blessing, and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune. And so it goes, until the end of time.”

This is storytelling at its finest. This is the best multigenerational story I have ever read. I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did, and maybe that’s why I’m so shocked and in awe of how this story has effected me (shaking, weeping, comfort eating), or maybe it’s because it is just that sublime.

The characters are extremely well developed, Meilin was so maternal, she literally made me feel safe, even during 1938 China and Japan’s War of Resistance and the civil unrest that follows, she was so pragmatic, always wanting to put one foot forward despite the circumstances, as a reader I felt safe in her care.

Despite this, Meilin could not shield Renshu, her son, from the horrors and realities of war, and he carries his trauma throughout his life, unsure who to trust, and withdrawing into himself rather than letting his childhood memories flow from his head and out of his mouth, even when he’s far away from China.

This has a damaging effect on Lily, his daughter, who struggles with her identity and her heritage. She feels too Chinese to be American, and too American to be Chinese. She views her identity as a dichotomy her entire life and struggles to reach a balance between the two cultures; viewing herself as two halves rather than one whole.

My favourite part of this story are probably the parables that Meilin taught Renshu. Not only do they resonate at the time of them being told, but they shadow future events and influence future decisions too. This just goes to show how much power a story holds.

And this story holds tons of it.

The writing in this story is truly mesmerizing and many a time I had to wake myself up out of an immersed stupor, too engaged in a story to remember my real life duties. It is incredibly culturally rich whilst also being historically educational. This book is a vivid and heartfelt exploration of how a war can sweep damage across a span of generations.


𝑲𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉 @ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚
🧚‍♀️🤍

I found the first half a little boring. It didn't evoke much emotion but I felt it should have. The second half was much better. The ending was quite poignant.

Peach Blossom Spring traces the story of one Chinese family over three generations. In 1938, Meilin and her son, Renshu, flee the Japanese war on China, escaping to Taiwan. As refugees, fleeing conflict, there are numerous horrors and obstacles on their arduous journey. Meilin uses a painted scroll to tell traditional stories, to connect with her culture, tradition, roots, husband and son. These episodes of calm among the chaos, help settle 4-year-old Renshu, distracting him from the surrounding terror and grief.
This focus on the power of storytelling threads through their lives, reinforcing the importance of family, hope, history and tradition.
As we move through the decades, Renshu (now Henry) relocates to America to build his own life, he often reflects on these stories his mother told and the deep, meaningful impact they had on him as a child.
Melissa Lu has deftly demonstrated how locked we can become in our own past traumas, as Henry struggles to come to terms with his past, his refusal to talk about his heritage or past and deal with life in America. This in turn traumatises his own daughter, Lily, as she tries to find her sense of self.
This book is a very moving, intelligent and compassionate tale, set in one of the most heinous periods of Chinese history. It challenges the need for a modern China while recognising centuries of history and tradition. Lu uses family at the centre of this tumultuous period as a theme for our search for our identity and place in this world. She emphasises the need for hope, especially in the darkest of times, in picking up and moving forward, no matter how many times we have to.

This is my book of the month for January 2023.
Thank you to #netgalley and #Wildfire publishing

This book is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside!

It follows three generations, starting in 1938 China with Meilin, a young widow who has to flee the advancing Japanese army with her young son Renshu, eventually settling in Taiwan.
Years later Renshu has settled in America and started his own family, his daughter Lily is eager to find out more about her Chinese heritage but Renshu (now known as Henry) is reluctant to relive his turbulent childhood.

The book is brilliantly researched with beautiful descriptions and I learnt so much by reading it.
I loved the bond between mother and son at the beginning of the book which reminded me a bit of the one found in American Dirt) and the sacrifices Meilin made.